Management of prediabetes from the perspective of Spanish physicians and community pharmacists: Detecta2 study

Abstract

Introduction: Prediabetes is a high-risk state for diabetes. The study aims to describe routine clinical practice and the views of physicians and pharmacists on prediabetes management.

Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire.

Results: A total of 410 physicians and 393 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Self-adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) was reported by 51.5% and 23.2% of physicians and pharmacists, respectively. Less than 60% of participants defined prediabetes according to main CPG. Regarding the use of screening strategies to detect prediabetes (physicians: 96%; pharmacists: 42.1%), reports indicate the opportunistic strategy is widely employed (≥75%) whereas systematic screening is unusual (<20%). Changes in lifestyle were deemed essential by almost all participants (≥95%), but in clinical practice only 58.3% of healthcare centers and 28.0% of pharmacies were found to provide awareness-raising/instruction. The role of pharmacists in the prevention of prediabetes/diabetes was judged useful by most participants.

Conclusions: Use of CPG, systematic prediabetes screening strategies, and specific strategies for patient education are scarce. The support of community pharmacists in prediabetes management was well valued. Therefore, it is crucial that the lines of action followed by both physicians and pharmacists align with each other and with the CPG.

Keywords: Clinical practice; Community pharmacists; Cross-sectional studies; Estudios transversales; Farmacéuticos comunitarios; Médicos; Percepciones; Perceptions; Physicians; Prediabetes; Práctica clínica.